Month: October 2021

Sculptor Hagop Janbazian and ARF Bureau member Arsen Hambardzumyan at the unveiling of Aram Manoukian’s bust

YEREVAN—The bronze bust of Aram Manoukian, one of the founders of the Republic of Armenia, was unveiled today at the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Aram Manoukian Youth Center of Yerevan. The sculpture, which is the work of Canadian-Armenian artist and community activist, Hagop Janbazian, was placed in the lobby of the Aram Manoukian Center, through which hundreds of youths enter every day. 

“Were it not for Aram Manoukian and his contemporaries, we would not have the First Republic, we would not have Soviet Armenia, and we would not have today’s independent republic,” ARF Bureau member Arsen Hambardzumyan said in his remarks. 

Scenes from the unveiling of Aram Manoukian’s bronze bust, sculpted by Hagop Janbazian

In his address, sculptor Hagop Janbazian thanked the ARF Bureau for the opportunity and highlighted the importance of honoring Manoukian’s legacy. “The young people who enter this building will bow not in front of this bust, which is, after all just a bronze statue, but in front of Aram’s everlasting memory. They have inherited his eternal torch and will continue to carry on his legacy,” Janbazian said. 

In his remarks, art critic Movses Hergelian (Tsirani), called Manoukian the ‘hero of the heroes’ because he was able to unite the nation. Commenting on the artwork, Tsirani said: “By looking into this statue’s eyes, it is evident that Janbazian has captured the moment when Manoukian commands us to be united and, at the same time, obliges us to be committed to his message. We are accountable to him because he established Armenian statehood. Without Aram Manoukian, there would be no Armenian state.”

Janbazian’s bust of Aram Manoukian is also displayed at the Sardarapat Memorial complex’ Sardarapat Ethnography and Liberation Movement History Museum. Janbazian is the author of several monuments, sculptures, and other pieces of art in Armenia and across the world, especially in Armenian communities throughout the Diaspora.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan salutes a crowd with the ultranationalist Grey Wolves sign at a gathering of his supporters in 2018

Turkey “deplores” the adoption by the House of Representatives of an amendment that proposes to categorize the Turkish ultranationalist and fascist Grey Wolves as a terrorist organization.

“It is deplorable and worrisome that such a groundless amendment that goes against the spirit of the alliance between Turkey and the US could even be considered in House of Representatives,” Tanju Bilgic, a spokesperson for Turkey’s foreign ministry said.

“Such initiatives from anti-Turkish lobbies, first embraced by some European circles and now in the US, harm our common fight against terrorism,” said Bilgic. “Our ally, the U.S., and all countries should be resolute in their fight against true terrorist organizations such as the PKK/PYD/YPG and FETO, instead of giving credit to imaginary and defamatory allegations. This kind of prejudice against our people who are integrated in the countries they live in is unacceptable.”

The foreign ministry spokesperson said expressed hope that the final text of the bill will not include what he called “such a baseless provision” and added that any attempt to restrict the freedom of association and _expression_ of the Turkish-American community should be avoided.

Last week the US House of Representatives adopted a number of amendments to the  National Defense Authorization Act. Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV) led an amendment requiring a report by the Secretary of State on the activities Turkey’s Grey Wolves organization has undertaken against U.S. interests, allies, and international partners, including a review of the criteria met for designation as a foreign terrorist organization.  The amendment had the support of a coalition of organizations including the Hellenic American Leadership Council, In Defense of Christians, American Friends of Kurdistan, Middle East Forum, as well as the ANCA, which circulated a detailed legislative brief to Congress in the days leading up to the vote.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Alexei Zaytsev

Confrontational rhetoric does not contribute to overcoming disagreements, Russia’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Alexei Zaytsev told reporters on Thursday, in an apparent rebuke of Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, who has continuously threatened that Baku will open the so-called “Zangezur Corridor,” linking Azerbaijan proper with Nakhichevan through Armenia.

“Instead, it is extremely important to create opportunities for finding mutually acceptable solutions,’’ advised Zaytsev, adding that both Baku and Yerevan have expressed, at the highest level, their “readiness to open a new page in relations and a gradual normalization of relations.’’

Saying that Russia is proponent of “such positive approaches,” Zaytsev added that the working group tasked to address the unblocking of transport routes in the South Caucasus continues its efforts with the participation of the deputy prime ministers of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan.

“For our part, we welcome the positive attitude of Baku and Yerevan towards reaching mutually acceptable, package agreements, which in the future will give an opportunity to jointly advance toward a partnership,’’ said Zaytsev.

The foreign ministry official also said that Moscow is hopeful that a proposed visit by the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs to the region will contribute to the organization of a meeting between the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan.

‘’Russia has always believed that constant dialogue, particularly at the highest level, contributes to the ensuring of mutual understanding and finding solutions to problematic issues in a constructive atmosphere,” said Zaytsev.

He also said that Russia is continuing to work with Yerevan and Baku to ensure the return of Armenian prisoners of war in exchange for maps of minefields, which he said will help normalize relations between the two countries.

Iran's Foreign Minister Hussein Amir-Abdollahian voiced Tehran's dissatisfaction with Baku while welcoming Azerbaijan's new ambassador to Iran, Ali Alizadeh

Iran’s Foreign Minister expressed his country’s dissatisfaction with the manner in which Azerbaijani border guards have treated truck drivers from Iran, including the arrest of two Iranian drivers on the Goris-Kapan Highway. He also called “unfortunate” the recent “anti-Iran” remarks by Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev.

Foreign Minister Hussein Amir-Abdollahian voiced Tehran’s concerns when welcoming Azerbaijan’s newly appointed ambassador to Iran Ali Alizadeh.

Relations between Baku and Tehran have become bumpy ever since Azerbaijani forces, having set up road blocks on the Goris-Kapan Highway in Armenia’s Syunik Province, have been stopping Iranian commercial trucks and imposing high taxes on the drivers. Earlier this month, two Iranian truck drivers were arrested. The road blocks have impeded Iran’s trade with Armenia.

Citing Iran’s “emotional response” to the highway debacle, Aliyev told the Turkish Anadolu news agency this week that he was angry and surprised at Iran’s decision to hold military drills in the country northwest region, bordering Nakhichevan.

Amir-Abdollahian characterized Aliyev’s remarks as “anti-Iran,” and said that it was unfortunate and surprising that the Azerbaijani leader would make the statements.

He defended Iran’s right to hold military exercises as the country’s sovereign right, saying that the drills are meant to train its armed forces to ward off potential attacks by Israel.

In a separate announcement on Thursday, the commander of Iran’s ground forces General Kioumars Heydari told the ISNA news agency that the drills in question will be held on October 1 in the country’s northwest region.

He explained that the drills, called Conquerors of Khaybar, will involve artillery, armored equipment, drones and helicopters.

Heydari added that the purpose of the drills is to check and increase the combat readiness level of the military and test military equipment.

• Former Armenian Defense Minister Davit Tonoyan has been arrested on charges of embezzlement.
• Armenia’s military expenditure will increase by 11% in 2022, according to a draft government budget.
• Lithuania will donate 50,000 doses of the Moderna coronavirus vaccine to Armenia.